Borderlands 2 Mechromancer Class Will Have User-Friendly Skill Tree

Borderlands 2's downloadable Mechromancer class will feature a skill tree designed to make shooting easier for less experienced players, but an ambiguous developer comment is raising some eyebrows across the internet.

Speaking to Eurogamer, lead director John Hemingway explained that the Mechromancer's Best Friends Forever skill tree provides a number of abilities that make Borderlands 2 more approachable, such as a skill that causes missed bullets to ricochet and hit enemies.

“The design team was looking at the concept art and thought, you know what, this is actually the cutest character we’ve ever had. I want to make, for the lack of a better term, the girlfriend skill tree."

“This is, I love Borderlands and I want to share it with someone, but they suck at first-person shooters. Can we make a skill tree that actually allows them to understand the game and to play the game? That’s what our attempt with the Best Friends Forever skill tree is.”

Hemingway's use of the term "girlfriend skill tree" has gotten many gamers riled up, though, prompting Randy Pitchford to confirm that this isn't an official name, nor will the phrase appear in the game.

“Borderlands 2 does NOT have a girlfriend mode. Anyone that says otherwise is misinformed or trying to stir up something that isn’t there. The future DLC Mechromancer class has a skill tree that makes it easier for less skilled coop partners (any gender!) to play and be useful. I didn’t know it was a nickname. It’s not even a thing – just a skill built from the idea of playing coop with noob friends.”

Thoughts?

In case you're worried, the Mechromancer will also be able to summon a massive robot called Deathtrap. Hemingway reckons that the other two skill trees will provide more nuanced, even "hardcore" options for advanced players. The DLC will be made available "60 to 90 days" after Borderlands 2 launches, and will be free to pre-order customers.

It was a f**king stupid thing to say, and Pitchford kinda needs to admit that. Then we can move on. From what I can gather it was a personal anecdote more than rampant sexism. Still should have known better than to say that to EG though. Schoolboy error.